I’ve seen the fake Bill Cosby e-mail floating around a number of times in recent weeks. First, his official site says it does not express his views. Second, even if you happen to believe any or all of the message, what does it say about you when you spread it against the express wishes of Mr. Cosby?
Here are some counterpoints against the screed.
At first I was going to just leave it at that, but oh heck, let’s take a look at it and see what I think.
Bill Cosby "I'm 83 and Tired"
Well, we know that is not true in any way.
I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for when I was doing my National Service, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.
None of the details are true. So what is the message? “I’m a workaholic”…? “I have no life”…? That you made poor decisions during those 40 years so you can’t have a decent retirement? Ok, maybe that isn’t what you intended, but that’s what I see.
No, I know what you’re trying to say. You’re trying to say that all I have is due to my own efforts and no one else’s. Good for you. Are you sure you didn’t receive any assistance from anyone?
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
Well, it’s a good thing you’re not retiring, because I assume you would refuse any kind of retirement benefits except for those coming directly from your own investments.
I’m sure there are bad apples who are truly lazy when they really could be working. But there are many more who want to work who aren’t being hired, or those who do work but don’t earn a living wage. There are also those who truly cannot work. There is such a thing as a “common good” that forms a social contract.
If religious institutions, businesses, and other private organizations truly took care of every person unable to work or earn enough, perhaps government wouldn’t need to step in. But from what I’ve seen, religious institutions tend to discriminate against certain groups, businesses aren’t interested in taking care of the needy, and there aren’t enough other charities and people willing to donate to causes to fully fill in the gaps. So I’m sorry, but government has a role to fill.
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; Muslims burning schools for girls; Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
Let’s not stop at Muslims. For some reason, religious extremism and fundamentalism corrupts all religions: Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, you name it. Have you heard of the proposal to legalize killings of abortion providers? In South Dakota? Yeah. Take the plank out of your own eye before trying to take the speck out of your neighbor’s.
Yes, there are extremist Muslims and these examples given certainly remind us that there are some truly atrocious actions done in the name of religion. But do you personally know average Muslims and have you spent any time with their community? Don’t stereotype and paint a entire people group with a narrow description.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and Madrasa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand , UK, America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance..
Two things. First, when we buy oil, the purchase money is no longer “ours”. They can do whatever they want with it. Second, if we’ve suddenly developed morals and ethics in our energy spending, maybe we can spend them on other forms of energy, or pay more for oil from geographies that aren’t so problematic. But that means higher energy costs for all of us. We can choose between greed and ethics.
Fear leads to repression. What you are saying and suggesting is that we prevent the teachings of ideas that we find offensive. But let me ask, who is “we” and how do “we” determine what is offensive? That’s the problem with freedom of conscience, of religion, of speech. We have to allow those things that offend us. Because we believe in the end, truth can win over error, without having to employ force, coercion, or repression. Because to employ force, coercion, or repression to disallow offensive speech and teachings is to become the very thing we are trying to avoid.
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
First of all, there has been plenty of debate. Second, whenever new technologies are needed, it presents an opportunity, an opportunity for economic growth and better lives.
The scientific evidence is overwhelmingly towards climate change. The fact that there were some problems with research ethics around this issue does not negate the science. They are two different issues.
I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?
This is not a simple issue; it is complex. Ignoring it hasn’t helped and the problem will only grow. Treating drug addiction as a crime hasn’t helped either. We need a multifaceted approach that addresses all areas: those getting wealthy from the drug trade, the producers, the distributors, and yes, the addicts. Psychological studies have shown that treating addiction using a disease model has better results than treating it as a crime.
Let’s suppose we stop treating addicts. What happens to them? Do they get locked up? For how long? Who pays for that?
Stop treating everything that happens in the world in simplistic black or white terms.
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Well now, isn’t that being a tad bit judgmental of you. It’s probably true that some are only sorry for getting caught, but all? You’re implying that people in power and influence are never truly sorry and never accept responsibility. That, to me, says more about your narrow-mindedness than about them.
I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
I almost agree with you here. Almost. There is much that a person can accomplish by taking responsibility and making good choices. But there is also quite a bit of influence that circumstances, environment, and even just plain dumb random chance can have on how things turn out. Many obstacles can be overcome by hard work and effort, but there are other obstacles that simply are. And from some perspectives this may not be considered promoting equality of opportunity, and maybe that is a legitimate case of faulting the government, or religion, or business, or “big-whatever”. Can something be done about such obstacles? Maybe if enough people speak out against it, mobilize, and do something. But to fault complaining or blaming as a problem in itself, is off the mark.
By the way, aren’t you sort of blaming the government for some of the “problems” you raise in this screed?
I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's be-deck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves unemployable and claiming money from the Government.
Uh, really? Have you been to Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington? Because I’ve seen plenty of employed young people matching the description you give here.
Maybe you’re just a little prejudiced against people that don’t look like you. That is not their problem; it’s yours.
Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 83.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and their children. Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in. There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make a difference.
So that’s it? After all that ranting, you’re giving up? You’re no better than all the people you just criticized.
“I’m 83 and I'm tired. If you don't agree you are part of the problem!
I’m tired, too, not of what you describe, but of seeing bigotry, prejudice, and misrepresentations, and of not having a wide enough vision to see all the good that is taking place, of not having enough faith that good always finds a way. Maybe not in your lifetime or mine, but some day.
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